Sebastian calmly waved his hand and shoot a bubble towards Bernard's lifeless body. When the bubble popped, a bright blue light covered Bernard's entire body, the light spinning around his body three times before vanishing.

"Penalty," Sebastian said. He kneeled in front of Bernard and tapped his friend's chest. "Wake up, man."

"You mean the Penalty for the other Celestums?" Allen asked, looking at Scorpio who was frozen into a stone. "They turn to stone when they hurt a successing Celstum?"

"Yes," Sebastian said. "One more of these Zodiacs contacted us. The Zodiac does not want to disclose any more information, but it was basically it. We got a heads up from what could happen sooner or later."

"But why did they sent someone if they know that they couldn't hurt a succeeding Celestum?" Jeremy thought out loud. "Did they use Scorpio as a bait? And what happened to Bernard? He literally died moments ago."

"First of all, I'm not dead. I used Sebastian's skills to store my energy to him and leave only three minutes of my life. That's enough time for me to make Scorpio attack me and activate the penalty" Bernard spoke as he stood up. "Second of all the Zodiacs are lunatics. They'd kill each other off if they had to."

Gwen narrowed her eyes. "And what do you mean by that?"

"He meant that the Zodiacs do not meet a common ground. They would want to kill each other and make the others as bait just so they could get rid of them," Sebastian clarified. "If it weren't for Leo, the others would've started a war with each other."

"And how come I didn't know any of these?" Remy crossed her arms as she entered the door. "You know, I was in places collecting information but the information came to you."

"I am a Celstum too," Kenneth said. "I may not have my Code anymore, but I still have myself. I can fight."

"Three supports, a mage, one ranger, and three fighters," Sebastian chuckled. "We're a force to be reckoned with. It's time to fight back and stop this fiasco. Then we'll move on to Roger Huntsman's case."

"So we settle the Zodiac first?" Allen asked to which Sebastian answered with a nod. "Let's show these bastards what it means like to be Eartheners."

–

"Howl, catch!" Allen yelled as he threw a stick onto a field where his now giant dog followed it. Howl barked before taking the stick and giving it back to Allen where he smothered the boy with his fluffy body.

"You grew up so fast. Your food is no joke too. One sheep a day? That's too much, bud," Allen said. Howl only barked but didn't get off from on top of Allen. The boy was laughing at this, but the dog continued to smother him.

"Howl," Jeremy smiled, waving another stick. Howl saw this and barked. Jeremy then spun the stick and threw it somewhere moderately far to which Howl chased at full speed. "Your dog is magnificently horrifying."

"He tries his best," Allen chuckled. "So, what will happen now? Are we still going forward to Sebastian's plan?"

"We don't have a choice, don't we?" Jeremy sighed. He sat on the patch of grass beside Allen while watching Howl come back with the stick. The dog barked before laying itself on the ground to sleep. "We can't fight these Zodiacs on our own. Assuming they are equal to the strength of Sagitarrius or Scorpio, we don't stand a chance against them."

"It is hard," Allen sighed. "Now I understand why the Zodiacs made Chara betray the Gems herself instead of them annihilation the their planet. So far, not one from them can harm us."

"It's even fate that sealed the security for us when Scorpio's Code chose Gwen as its next owner," Jeremy grinned while looking at the sky. "Now, every one of us has Celestums."

"We're going to get more," Allen said. He sat up and smiled. "After this, we're going to take down Roger Huntsman, then the Gods and then the final boss. Let's save this planet of ours."

"What beautiful sentiment," a female voice spoke, making the two raise their guards. They stood and conjured their weapons, raising it to defend themselves. "Oh, I'm not here for a battle."

The earth bulged on an area in front of the two. It cracked open as a woman emerged from it, smiling at them. She had long hair that was made from thorny vines, her skin was green and her body was covered with grass that acted as a tight floor-length dress.

She was like a garden in herself by the different kinds and colors of flowers parading her entire body from her hair down to her dress. She also had a pair of pale green eyes with lips that was as red as a cherry.

"Who are you?" Allen asked to which the woman answered by shaking her head.

"My identity is not important," she said. "But what I'm about to tell you is, so listen to me. The Gods will attack those of you whom have the same type of Celestums."

"But I have different ones," Allen said. "One from the Primordial Beasts and one from the Great Gems."

"That is exactly where you and Hermes got lost," the woman chuckled. "It was okay for you to have those two. He only warned you because you seem to have a habit of collecting Codes."

Allen couldn't deny this fact. Even the title bestowed upon him by the Snake's Blessing was a Code Collector. He mainly collects Codes.

"If you disobey us, you're going to have a rough time," the woman smiled. "Let me demonstrate."

She thrust her arm forward and shot a large thorn at Howl's direction. Allen couldn't catch up in time, making him gasp as he watched the thorn make its way to his pet.

"No!"

Slash.

Their eyes widened as Gwen revealed herself from the camouflage. "You can't hurt this dog, b*tch."

On her arm was the scorpion claw running from her back with the stinger right on top of her hand as a weapon. "Try me."